United Methodist Church, Redding, Iowa

VARIOUS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 9/4/2009 at 08:04:13

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Redding, Ringgold County, Iowa
Photograph by Sharon R. Becker, May 22, 2009

The Methodist Church in Redding was started through the efforts of traveling circuit riders which included Rev. DURFEE, Rev. WYCOFF, Rev. LOVEJOY, Rev. KERN, and Rev. ELLIOTT. Rev. KERN started holding services in 1874 at the Maudling school, located a half a mile south of the present site of the town of Redding. Rev. LOVEJOY succeeded Rev. KERN. In 1877, Rev. G. W. NORRIS assumed the pulpit when the charge was changed to Redding, Rose Hill [later named Middle Fork Methodist Church], Enterprise [Benton], and Shiloh. Later Shiloh was discontinued. Eureka and Fry Chapel were added to the circuit.

The last living charter member of the Redding Methodist Church was D. Burt NORRIS who passed away in 1954. He was the son of Rev. G. W. NORRIS.

Services were moved from Maulding School to the new Brush School. Later, the congregation held services at Badger School which was south of the town of "Old" Redding. With the incorporation of the town of "New" Redding in 1882, the congregation moved into the new schoolhouse which was located on the lot south of the present church site.

The Methodist Church of Redding maintained the Epworth League, an active young people's group.

Reverend JOHNSON was the minister of the church from 1882 to 1884. Disturbed, Rev. JOHNSON said, "This town has business places and many homes, but God has no house here." Rev. JOHNSON organized a building project with church trustees Dwight DERICKSON, D. W. POORE, and William MILLER. H. T. MILLER, George EATON, Bert NORRIS, J. T. CONRAD, and J. W. ADAIR served on the building committee. Carpenters who erected the church building were J. M. CROUCH, J. W. ULLERY, and Stacy NYE from Blockton. Upon completion of the church, the congregation held a great revival.

The church was remodeled in 1902 with a dedication service held on Sunday, December 24th. During this project, a church bell was purchased for $55.00 and an new furnace installed at a cost of $150.00. In 1902, the Ladies Aid Society was organized.

The church was raised and a basement was installed in 1912.

In September of 1922, there were fourteen Sunday School classes. 185 people attended church services.

The Ladies Aid and Missionary Society were reorganized and merged into the Womens Society of Christian Service [present-day United Methodist Women] in 1939. The Boosters, a young women's circle, was organized in 1948.

In 1954, the Methodist Men's group was organized. They sponsored farming projects to raise funds to panel the sanctuary. The Boosters raised funds to put in a cistern and provide water to the kitchen in the basement. A harvest sale was held, raising $1,800 for a new gas heating system.

In 1972, the Mount Ayr Larger Parish was organized with Mount Ayr, Blockton, Redding, Middle Fork churches.

The Redding United Methodist Chuch celebrated its centennial on September 15, 1974. Rev. Ed BOULTON was the special speaker. The church was filled to capacity for both morning and afternoon meetings.

The Methodist Action Club, MAC's, was organized in 1977. The group supports the church with fundraisers and assume reponsibility for Vacation Bible School.

Pastors of the Redding United Methodist Church are:

C. H. BURLEIGH S. MATHENY
J. L. JOHNSON

J. G. BORNE T. G. ATEN Rev. WITHERS

Martin E. JONES G. W. WOOD
W. F. MARKS

A. L. BATES George MITCHELL
J. W. McCURDY

C. B. LARRABEE Levi JARVIS
O. D. ELLIOTT

Charles KNOLL in 1899 C. E. WOOD
F. B. DUNN

W. O. WOOLEVER Edward PRUITT
Charles C. WILKINS

George T. ROBERTS Orville F. HOWARD I. B. HOLMAN

A. M. EASTMAN Carl CRITCHETT
W. J. ANDREWS

Rev. CHALMERS Vincent GRAY
B. R. BAKER

C. C. CALLAHAN W. T. SELBY
C. W. PEERE

C. H. MARPLE Louie R. CHANNEL
J. W. HOLLIDAY

Q. W. AMACK, 1930 W. H. WARRIOR Ernest STEWART

J. E. M. CHAMBERS V. L. McELENY Francis HARRIS

V. S. BOWER W. A. WHITENACK
John M. LATTA

Marvin G. OSSMAN Irvin G. WILKINS Sydney E. STERRITT

Clarence H. LANDIS William FRY, 1972 Jerrold SWINTON

Art HILL Lynn POTTER, 1982
Associate pastors have included Allen RICKS, Oliver LARKIN, and Milton HENDERSON in 1982.

Members of the Ladies Aid Society, 1912 - 1916

Mrs. A. M. EASTMAN Mrs. Wes ADAIR Mrs. George ADAIR

Mrs. Jesse CONRAD Mrs. Anne HIATT Rosa HILLHOUSE

Mrs. Clara EDWARDS
Mrs. Eva FULLERTON Mrs. Ina NORRIS

Mrs. Effie HOLLAND Mrs. Ada ULLERY Mrs. Sarah PARKER

Mrs. Alice HUDSON
Mrs. Frances WATSON Mrs. Ella DERICKSON

Mrs. Mary ZOOK Mrs. Elda NEWMAN
Alta ADAIR

Florence HOFFMAN Dora DEFENBAUGH Mrs. Pearl ADAIR

Lena (BELLAMY) ROGERS Mrs. Ida HASH Mrs. Mary BUTLER

Mrs. Lou HARRIS George EATON

Members of the Womens Society of Christian Service (W.S.C.S.), 1941

Florence RAMSEY Ada ULLERY
Maggie ADAIR

Eva FULLERTON Pearl HIATT
Nellie KELLY

Lavinia STATON Lulu EDWARDS
Nellie NORRIS

Effie HOLLAND Jedie NORRIS
Mary ADAIR

Jennie McQUIGG Abbie HARRIS
Blanche McQUIGG

Amy KING Ina NORRIS Alice MALOY

Estella WRIGHT Madge NORRIS
Ella REYNARD

Pearl ADAIR Clara PARKER Mamie SHAW

Roxie SAVILLE Rosa BROTT Ella STATON

Mrs. J. C. CALHOUN Vera HOFFMAN Zeline GEIGER

Oliver MILLER Bernice NORRIS
Ida HERRINGTON

Bernice LYNCH Ida HASH Anne HIATT

Lorene SHAW Maud OLENY
Mrs. Clyda HOFFMAN

Members of United Methodist Women, 1982

Bernice ABARR
Lavinia (STATON) BAILEY Bertha (OLNEY) BROTT

Cleota GRIFFITH Fern JEANES
Nellie KELLY

Trula KOBBE Lennis LAMBERT
Bernice LYNCH

Lela NEAS Gladys (SAVILLE) ROMIG Mildred SAVILLE

Lorene SHAW Hazel TAYLOR
Gertrude LaMOND, Honorary Member

Ida HASH, Honorary Member

Members of Methodist Action Club (MAC's), 1982

Vickie JEANES, founder, Treasurer, 1982
Pat MAUDLIN, charter member
Sharon WALKUP, charter member

Bev McGINNIS, charter member
Bobbi BAINUM, charter member
Cindy SNETHEN, charter member

Ginger LYNCH, charter member
Linda WILT, charter member
Karen TAYLOR, charter member, Historian, 1982
Verlene KNAPP, charter member, Vice-President, 1982
Lil RINEHART Diane ELMER

Ginny QUICK Karen DENNEY
Connie LYNCH

Jolene HILL
Susie LYDDON, President, 1982
Cindy SHELLEY

SOURCE: Redding, Iowa: The First Hundred Years: 1882-1982, Pp.36-40.

Written & submitted by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009; updated September of 2009

United Methodist Church, Redding
 

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